Paris ERUPTS in violence: French riots ‘will spread Germany and Netherlands’

French President Emmanuel Macron called the violent riots that have erupted in the French capital today “war scenes”. Thousands of protesters are taking part in the third consecutive weekend of demonstrations targeting Mr Macron’s policies. The so-called ‘yellow vest’ movement began in spontaneous protest at a spike in fuel prices and the high cost of living, but has since been linked to broader criticism of the president’s economic agenda.

Shocking scenes of the protest showed burning cars barricading roads while rioters threw stones at police. 

Several shops, banks and cafes had boarded up their windows in preparation of the today’s violence.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said there had been more than a hundred arrests so far, with approximately 36,000 people participating across France.

At least three policemen and seven protesters had been injured during the clashes, according to police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner earlier tweeted that there were “1,500 agitators outside the security perimeter who came to fight”.

One of the protesters identified as Gilles said that this movement was the start of something much bigger.

He told reporters: “We want this movement to spread.

“It began in France, it is in Belgium, and we want it to continue to Germany and the Netherlands, across Europe, even to England.”

Yesterday, hundreds of people donned yellow vests and protested outside major EU buildings in Brussels – amid concern among officials that the protest could spill across borders.

There is little sign of the protest movement waning after talks between yellow vest representatives and the French prime minister ended in disarray yesterday.

The protests today come while Mr Macron is attending the G20 summit in Buenos Aires.